The story of Michael Oher (a real life escapee from Precious), a teenage son of a crack addicted mother and a missing father. Adopted and cared for by a rich white family Michael was transformed from no-hoper to an American Football star. This is the story of his success and of the family who worked so hard to give him a life.
Beloved by the public, belittled by critics this paean to loving care and white loveliness has to be watched. find out more...

Chronicles the life and times of Nucky Thompson, the undisputed ruler of Atlantic City, who was equal parts politician and gangster.
High production values and a fine ensemble cast: HBO knows how to do TV.

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Brandon Teena is a new face in the isolated community of Falls City and it's not long before he has charmed the locals, in particular the women, who find his boyish good looks and gentle charm magnetic. Brandon has a secret though, and while in itself the truth is neither dark nor malevolent, in a place such as Falls City, the revelation of his true identity will have disturbing and destructive consequences. Boys Don't Cry is an incredibly powerful and at times horrifying drama, with some superb find out more...

Superb biopic of legendary country singer Loretta Lynn. Sissy Spacek, who incidentally has a belting voice, deservedly won the Best Actress Oscar for her moving portrayal of the naive Kentucky farm girl who became a singing superstar against all the odds, while Tommy Lee Jones is dynamite as her husband Doolittle. Beverly D'Angelo is also a revelation as Loretta's close friend, the late great Patsy Cline. An inspirational rags-to-riches story, only to be avoided if you have a strong aversion to find out more...

Powerful drama, based on a true story. Sarandon is superb as the nun whose work counselling Death Row killers brings her uncomfortably close to cold-hearted double murderer Matthew Poncelot (Penn), a man who shows no fear or remorse. Stirring stuff which avoids the usual Hollywood cliches. find out more...

Erin Brockovich is an unemployed, single mum with little education or prospects only her gift for the gab and no bullshit attitude keep her above water. Having blagged her way into a law firm she stumbles across a cover up which has left a small community poisoned. The further Erin digs the more obsessed she becomes, and dragging her initially reluctant law firm in with her she prepares to do battle for one of the largest direct-action settlements in American legal history. Similar in style, and find out more...

Arrested for the fatal beating of an old lady, petty thief and prostitute Barbara Graham is truculent and aggressive with the police who arrest her as a suspect, but when the evidence against her begins to pile up Barbara relises it's not just her innocence she's going to have to fight for, it's her very life. 'I Want To Live' is a harrowing but utterly addictive story, with an Oscar winning tour de force by Susan Hayward in the central role.

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A stunning dramatisation of the mesmerising life and ultimately tragic times of Edith Piaf, the ‘little sparrow'. The singer's life is beautifully evoked, as is the time, while Marion Cotillard in the central role is perfection. A moving and marvellous delight.....'Je ne regrette rien'. find out more...

Aileen 'Lee' Wournos had had enough of hooking and enough of life when she met Selby Wall in a Florida bar in 1989. She took Selby to be her saviour, her new reason to fight and to live. But in the hours before their second date Lee is forced to literally fight to live. As writer/director Patty Jenkins takes us on Lee's journey from kill to kill we find her motives to be bound up in a complicated web of love, fear, revenge, desperation, defence and loathing. Christina Ricci conveys the naively find out more...

After the 11th September 2001 the War Against Terror is preparing to move on to Iraq. The UN have sent in the weapons inspectors to find if Saddam has indeed Weapons of Mass Destruction and the political machines in both the UK and US are working to present the strongest possible case for war in the face of (in the UK) very vocal opposition from the public. With the dossiers released and the threat established the "need for war" is set and, on the 19th March 2003, th find out more...